Adventure Tours
Mount Kenya Hiking, Mt Kenya Climbing
Conquering the highest mountain in Kenya, Mount Kenya, is an exhilarating event, and the breathtaking views of the African sunrise from Point Lenana are a never-to-be-forgotten experience. This trek can be undertaken by any physically fit person, and several routes up the mountain are shown below:
Mount Kenya, Africa’s second-highest mountain at 5,199 m (17,058 feet) and the highest of all Kenyan mountains, is roughly circular, about 60 km across at the 200 m contour, where the steep front hills rise out of the gentler slopes of the centered highlands. At the center of the massif, the main peaks rise sharply from around 4,500 m to the main summit of Batian (5,199 m), Nelion (5,188 m), and Point Lenana (4,985 m). Other major summits on the mountain include Point Piggott (4,957 m), Point Dutton (4,885 m), and Point John (4,883 m). Of the three main peaks (Batian, Lenana, and Nelion), only point Lenana can be reached by trekkers; the other two are only for technical climbers.
It is the second-highest peak in Africa and stands somewhat unjustly in the shadow of its taller neighbor, Kilimanjaro, which lies some 320 km away in the south and is visible on a clear day. Kilimanjaro may see much more traffic due to the possibility of summiting via several non-technical trekking routes and due to the sometimes dubious honor of being one of the Seven Summits, but Mount Kenya offers a wealth of excellent and diverse climbing possibilities on rock, snow, and ice. Mt. Kenya is an ancient volcanic mountain, much older than Mt. Kilimanjaro. It’s believed to have once reached well above 600 m. What is left today is a volcanic plug that erosion has fashioned into the complex, jagged outline of the central peaks.
Sirimon Route Hiking
Hiking on Mt Kenya
Mt Kenya Trekking
What do you expect to see
While trekking Mt. Kenya, you will pass through the cultivated farmlands on the lower slopes as the trails pass through the rain forest, rich in trees of many species but noticeably camphors, then onto a bamboo zone growing to heights of 12 m or more up through open moorland before reaching the moonscape of higher slopes. The forests are rich in wildlife, including elephants, buffalo, and monkeys, with even the moorlands offering a long list of mammals, including the rock hyrax, the nearest living relative of the elephant. Sunbirds, hyrax, and soaring eagles make the walk around the peaks one of the most beautiful expeditions in the East African mountains.
Getting to Mount Kenya from Nairobi
Mount Kenya is approximately 200 km north of Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, and is comfortably accessible by road using a variety of transport options—buses, minibuses, taxi cabs, or car rentals will get you close to the mountain on the tarred roads to the nearest town: Naromoru town for the Naro Moru route, Nanyuki town for the Sirimon route, and Chogoria town for the Chogoria route. The last stretch from the nearest town to the various trailheads (typically +/- 25 km) will be on dirt roads, and these can be in poor condition (especially in wet weather) and require a 4WD or an approach on foot.
When to Trek Mount Kenya
Although Mount Kenya can be climbed all year round, the highest rainfall occurs between late March and the middle of May and slightly less between late October and mid-December. Maximum rainfall occurs in the forest belt and on the southeast side of the mountain, where it reaches 2500 mm per year at 3000 m. Rain and, higher up, snow can, however, be encountered at any time of year—even in the driest periods (January and February). Normally, the drier seasons are associated with clear, dry weather, which can last for many days on end. The best weather is generally in the mornings, and convectional rainfall, if any, tends to come in the mid-afternoon.
Chogoria Route
There are three main routes, which penetrate the forest and the moorland. The routes are the Naromoru route, the Sirimon route, and the Chogoria route, each of which has something different to offer. The other routes, which are dormant, are the Timau Route, Burguret Route, Meru Route, and Kamweti Route
Climbing Mount Kenya Sirimon Route—The least used of the three main routes, but it features the most gradual ascent profile and best acclimatization options and, above all, is the most interesting since it’s on the drier side of the mountain. The route passes through impressive Yellowwood forests in the lower reaches and features abundant wildlife and beautiful alpine scenery higher up.
Climbing Mount Kenya’s Naro Moru route—the fastest route to Point Lenana, but not as scenic as the other two. It is often overcrowded with many climbers since it’s the most popular route compared to the Chogoria and Sirimon routes.
